Belleville cheer team gets ready for Fall

The Belleville High School cheerleading team has been putting in a lot of time during the summer months.

Coached by Jen Caputo and Christine Caputo, the Bucs have been at Municipal Stadium, practicing at Doc Ellis Field in the mornings, usually from 9 to 11 a.m., five days a week.

Jen Caputo, the team's head coach, is beginning her eighth year in that role. She is also a former cheerleader at Belleville High. Caputo noted the hard work the team and coaching staff are putting into the summer months, as the girls prepare for the season opening football game, which is set for Friday, Sept. 5, at home, against Snyder of Jersey City.

Jen Caputo coaches the varsity while Christine Caputo is the JV coach.

"First, it's great to work with Christine," said Caputo of her assistant. "She can finish my sentences and we're both on the same page. I would not be able to coach without her. We started summer practices on June 30 and the heat has been tough. The girls are working extremely hard and are doing a great job."

Cheerleading on the high school level has become very competitive over the past 10 years. In addition to cheering at football games in the fall, as well as basketball and wrestling matches in the winter, the team also takes part in competitions against other high school cheerleading squads, usually in the winter months. The girls also do community service work in the township and are expected to maintain good grades in the classroom.

Tryouts for the 2014-2015 season were held this past spring. All the girls are expected to tryout, even if they competed last season. Independent judges are brought in for the tryouts, in determining the athletes who will take part for the varsity and JV teams.

And not to be forgotten are the athletic skills a cheerleader needs to succeed.

"The girls learn the basics of motions, jumps, stunts and tumbling to start the new season," said Caputo. "All fundamentals that are learned during the summer help them throughout the season. The girls attend tumbling classes once a week. The competitive cheer world continues to grow and we have to keep up with the times."

Caputo noted that last season was a very good one for her team.

"Last year was the first time, since I've been coach, that our team qualified for the states, which was a great accomplishment," Caputo said. "All of the best teams in New Jersey attended. The girls had so much fun, and it was a great experience for all of them. We look forward to going back this season."

As for the football season, the Bucs will have an advantageous schedule, as far as home games.

"We're very excited to have six home games this season," Caputo said. "The girls will be preparing posters for the football team, and will be making our chocolate covered pretzels, which they sell at every game."

The girls will be expected to learn over 100 new cheers that will be part of the football games.

"We'll also be cheering at basketball games and for the wrestlers, as well as practice for the competitions," said Caputo. "We usually attend one competition every weekend in the winter."

In addition to practicing during the summer, the girls are also taking part in a team cheerleading camp this week at one of the elementary schools. Some of the team members will also attend independent cheering camps this summer.

"There's a lot of work that goes into being a cheerleader," said Caputo. "I'm proud of the team's work ethic."